Jacket pile cleanout apparatus

ABSTRACT

A jacket pile cleanout device for cleaning in situ the interior of an offshore piling including a fluid accumulation jetting chamber for accumulating and jetting a fluid against debris within the interior of a pile casing and a pumping chamber connected with the accumulation chamber. The pumping chamber is fashioned with a fluid inlet and fluid exit with a means for introducing pressurized gas into the interior of the pumping chamber between the fluid inlet and the fluid exit. The pump serves to lift fluid and fragmented matter within the piling to the surface by a gas lift.

United States Patent Rochelle et al.

[ 5l Mar. 7,1972

[54] JACKET PILE CLEANOUT APPARATUS [72] Inventors: William R. Rochelle,Houston, Tex.;

Ronald Lee Wyeolf, Rolla, Mo.

[73] Assignee: Brown & Root, Inc., Houston, Tex.

[22] Filed: June 12, 1970 [2] Appl. No: $7,860

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Scr. No. 813,479, Apr. 4,I969, Pat. No.

[52] U.S. Cl. ..l34/l67 C, l34/24 [51] Int. Cl. l ..B08b 3/02, B08b 9/02[58] Field ofSearch ..l34/22 C, 24, 166C, I67 C,

l34/l68 C, 169 C [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l,274,93l8/l9l8 Otterson 134/24 2,245,575 6/1941 Court I 34/24 UX 3,062,227 I1/1962 Soderberg.. ....l34/l68 C 3,085,585 4/1963 Le Rocque ....l34/l69C 3,I65,109 1/1965 Hammelmann ..l34/l67 C Pn'mary Examiner-Robert L.Bleutge Attorney-Burns, Doane, Benedict, Swecker 8L Mathis [57] ABSTRACTA jacket pile cleanout device for cleaning in situ the interior of anoffshore piling including a fluid accumulation jetting chamber foraccumulating and jetting a fluid against debris within the interior of apile casing and a pumping chamber connected with the accumulationchamber, The pumping chamber is fashioned with a fluid inlet and fluidexit with a means for introducing pressurized gas into the interior ofthe pumping chamber between the fluid inlet and the fluid exit. The pumpserves to lift fluid and fragmented matter within the piling to thesurface by a gas lift.

12 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures PATENTEUMR 1 I972 SHEU 1 0F 6 INVENTORSWILLIAM R. ROCHELLE RONALD LEE WYCOFF ums Dom, Emma 8W4 /at m'" ATTORN EYS PATENTEUHAR 1 I972 SHEET 2 0f 6 INVENTQRS W'LUM R. ROCHELLE RONALDLEE WYCOFF uru, bow, Emma Math:

ATTOR N E YS Quest PAIENIEHIIR 7 m2 3.646.947

sum u or 6 INVENTOBS WILLIAM R. ROCHELLE RONALD LEE WYCOFF f BY ZWM,zomfiwdd,

Qwecke/ Mal/us ATTORNEYS PATENTEUHAR 7 m2 SHEET 5 BF 6 Fm ll FIG. 10

INVENTORS WlLLIAM R. ROCHELLE RONALD LEE WYCOFF BY bow, ated/6" iweucuMMM ATTORN E YS PATENTEDHAR' 7 m2 3.646.947

sum 6 0F 6 INVENTORS WILLIAM R. ROCHELLE RONALD LEE WYCOFF BY U M', bow224411106,

weerer 6 MM:

ATTORNEYS JACKET PILE CLEANOUT APPARATUS BACKG ROUN D OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to reinforcing, in situ, an offshore piling ofthe type adapted to extend downwardly into the bed ofa body of water andupwardly above the surface of the water to support a platform.

More particularly this invention relates to a method and ap paratus forreinforcing pilings, in situ, which may be partially damaged or corrodedand which may contain silt or other sediment that would prohibit theutilization of conventional pile reinforcing techniques.

Drilling for oil in oil or gas fields situated beneath the surface of abody of water such as a sea or lake is frequently performed utilizing adrilling tower which is relatively mobile and generally includes abuoyant base adapted to rest upon a submerged surface. In contrast theinstant invention relates to an offshore platform or tower which haspilings extending into a submerged surface and is therefore relativelyimmobile. Such a platform may be used in conjunction with a well orseveral wells, may be used as a distribution or collecting station, ormay be used for other purposes, not necessarily related to the petroleumindustry.

One example of a platform support structure of the type described aboveincludes a plurality of vertically extending tubular casings which havebeen either jetted, driven, or drilled into the seabed. In many cases,depending upon the depth of the water, the casings comprise segmentswhich are directed into alignment by guide flanges and either bolted,screwed or welded together at the construction site. Cross bracing isfrequently employed to give the structure lateral stability againsthydrodynamic loads imposed on the piling by currents and/or waves withinthe sea.

Platforms, as described above, in addition to supporting drillingequipment, frequently are used to support radar installations,lighthouse beacons, marine experimentation stations, and the like.Dimensionally the pilings of these platforms frequently vary from 6inches to 3 feet in diameter and from 50 to l feet in length or morewhen used along the near shore portions of the Gulf of Mexico and 100 to500 feet or more in length when used along the Continental shelf of thePacific Coast.

Although tubular platform supports of the type described are oftenadequate, they may sometimes become unsatisfactory for a number ofreasons.

For example, in areas where sea conditions vary with the seasons, theabove structure may be quite satisfactory, on a temporary basis.However, if the tower is required to be maintained through a stormyseason, the tubular casing may not be structurally rigid enough towithstand forces created by a raging wind and sea.

Another disadvantage of the above tubular pile structure is that while apiling initially may be designed to withstand vary ing sea conditions,with time, the steel casings may be corrodcd and often substantialportions may be eroded away. It will be readily appreciated that suchcorrosion, or fatigue will substantially weaken the piling structure,even to the point of possible failure.

One particular environment where conventional supports have not beentotally satisfactory is for offshore drilling operations. In thisregard, while conventional tubular structure can be designed towithstand the stresses and corrosion of the salt water for an estimateddrilling time, frequently drilling operations are extended beyond thetime initially estimated. Furthermore, if the drilling produces an oilbearing well, the drilling platform is frequently used to supportproduction equipment which can remain in place indefinitely.

When either of the above conditions occurs, some means is necessary toreinforce the support pilings without disrupting either the drilling orsubsequent production operations. Un-

fortunately, these pilings may frequently have guide means projectingwithin their interiors and further the pilings may have accumulatedlarge deposits of sediment, mud or other debris which makes it difficultor impossible to reinforce them by the conventional technique of merelyfilling the piling with cement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Objects Of The Invention To this and otherends, it is therefore a general object of the invention to overcomeproblems and disadvantages of the type previously mentioned.

It is a particular object of the invention to reinforce, in situ,conventional pile casings.

It is another object of the invention to reinforce, in situ, weakenedpile casings of offshore drilling platforms.

It is yet another object of the invention to reinforce pile casingswithout disrupting operations on the platform supported by the pilings.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a means to reinforcetemporary piling structure, in situ, after a decision has been made tomake the structure relatively permanent.

It is still another object of the invention to reinforce a pilingstructure which may be substantially full of sediment or debris andwhich contains inwardly projecting guide means which facilitate thejoining of pile segments.

It is yet another significant object of the invention to provide adevice that can be positioned within a pile casing and simultaneouslyfragment and remove debris therein.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device that islightweight and compact enough to fit into a pile casing and fragmentand remove debris therein at depths far exceeding sea level.

It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a device with nomoving parts, that is not vulnerable to abrasion, that is conservativein power requirements, that will not be clogged by mud or debris andwill be compact enough to fit into a pile casing to fragment and removedebris therein at depths greatly exceeding sea level.

One preferred from of the invention intended to accomplish at least someof the foregoing objects comprises: gaining access into a pile casingabove the water line, cleaning debris from the interior of the casingand simultaneously ejecting this debris from the pile casing, stiffeningor reinforcing the casing and finally closing the pile casing accessopening.

In carrying out the above step of cleaning and simultaneously ejectinganother aspect of the invention comprises a fluid jet cleaning and gaslift pumping tool. The tool is designed to descend into a pile casingand generally comprises two cylindrical chambers. One chamber containsjetting nozzles at one end thereof and a fluid inlet at the other end.Pressurized fluid can be pumped into this chamber where it willmomentarily accumulate and thenjet against the casing walls to fragmentmatter that may be collected thereon or therebetween.

The second chamber is integrally connected to the first accumulation andjetting chamber and is generally an open ended hollow body with atoroidal manifold positioned approximately in the center thereof.Pressurized gas may be pumped into the manifold and out through aplurality of apertures therein to release gas within the interior of thepumping chamber. The gas will comingle with fluid and particulate debriswithin the chamber and thereby reduce the specific gravity of the fluidwithin the pump. Consequently, the fluid column outside the chamber willforce the fluid of lower specific gravity inside the chamber to thesurface through a conduit connected to the top of the pumping chamber.

THE DRAWINGS Further objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. I is a side elevational view, partially broken away, ofa portion ofthe pile-defined support structure for an offshore platform;

FIG. 2 is a partially sectioned side elevational view of a piling duringthe cleaning phase of reinforcing the piling;

FIG. 3 is a partially sectioned side elevational view of a piling duringthe dewatering step of reinforcing the piling;

FIG. 4 is a partially sectioned side elevational view of a piling withprestressing tendons positioned therein;

FIG. 5 is a sectional side elevational view of the prestressingstructure;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the prestressing structure, as viewed alongsection line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a partially sectioned side elevational view of a prestressedreinforced piling casing;

FIG. 8 is a partially sectioned side elevational view of a preferredembodiment of a pile cleanout device positioned with a pile casing;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of one of the nozzles shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a top plan, generally horizontally sectioned view of the pilecleanout device shown in FIG. 8, as viewed along section line [0-10 ofFIG. 8;

FIG. I I is a fragmentary, partially sectioned, vertical elevation viewof the upper end of a guide component as viewed along section line I1IIof FIG. I0;

FIG. I2 is a fragmentary partially sectioned, vertical elevation view ofthe high-pressure manifold, as viewed along section line I2-I2of FIG.10;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the manifold shown in FIG. 12.taken along section line I3l3 therein;

FIG. [4 is a partially sectioned side elevational view of an alternativepreferred embodiment of a jacket pile cleanout device shown positionedwithin a jacket pile casing wherein conduit 32 has been rotated 60 forease of illustration;

FIG. is a top plan view, generally horizontally sectioned, of the pilecleanout device, as viewed along section line IS-I5 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a bottom plan view of FIG. I4; and

FIG. I7 is a fragmentary portion of a cross-sectional plan view takenalong section line l7l7 of FIG. 14.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS SUMMARY Referring now to thedrawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts, and morespecifically to FIG. 1, an offshore platform structure I0, only aportion of which is shown, is pictured supported by a plurality ofgenerally upright pile casings II. Such pile casings II project throughgenerally tubular jacket legs" Ila of the structure I0 to securestructure I0 to the subsea bed I3, in the manner generally described inthe US. Hauber et al. Pat. No. 3,315,473 and the Us. Hauber Pat. No.3,429,l 33.

The casings I] extend above the surface 12s and into the bed 13 of abody of water I2. Cross bracing means I4 extend between and reinforcethe jacket legs Ila so as to restrain lateral movement of the structure,which may be caused, for example, by various hydrodynamic forces of thesea.

The pilings Il may contain sediment and debris 15 which has accumulatedabove the sea bed and also a more compacted silt or deposit 16 below theseabed.

A preferred method of reinforcing, in situ, a piling, as described abovecomprises: swagging internal guide flanges of casing segments intoconformity with the casing wall, cleaning and simultaneously removingany sediment or debris that may be contained therein, dewatering thepile casing, filling the casing with a cementitious material andprestressing the cement. A piling reinforced by the above method may bestronger than the original tubular casing and extremely resistant to thehydrodynamic forces of the sea.

The above step of cleaning and simultaneously removing sediment withinthe piling is carried out by a jacket pile cleanout device as best seenin FIGS. 8 and I4. The cleanout device is compact enough to bepositioned within the jacket piling and is composed of an accumulationjetting chamber with a plurality ofjetting heads at one end thereof. Theheads direct fluid jets against compacted silt within the casing. Thefluid jets fragment or disperse the silt which will then be suspendedwithin the jetting fluid retained within the casing.

Integral with the accumulation jetting chamber is a generally hollow,open ended tubular pumping chamber. The pumping chamber contains a gasinlet means which will admit superatmospheric gas into the chamber. Thegas will comingle with the jetting fluid and the fragmented debriswhich, following a path of least resistance, has entered the open end ofthe pumping chamber. Therefore, the solution in the pumping chamber willhave a specific gravity lower than the fluid outside the chamber andwill therefore be pushed upward. This means of pumping is commonlyreferred to as a gas lift.

It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that theabove-described tool will will simultaneously scour the interior of apile casing and pump the fragmented debris to the surface and out of thejacket piling. It will be further noted that this pumping device doesnot contain any moving parts and therefore is relatively simple toservice. Since the pumping chamber is merely a smooth hollow opening,mud and debris will not clog or wear the interior as readily as with arotary vane pump. Further, the pump as described above is small enoughto fit into the interior of a pile casing, yet is large enough tofulfill the pumping requirements. Additionally, the pump will operate atdepths far exceeding those possible by a perfect vacuum pump positionedat sea level.

THE METHOD The first step in reinforcing a piling, in situ, is to forman entrance into the interior of the piling.

lfit should prove to be impractical to provide an access into the top ofthe piling structure, a service window 20, shown in FIG. I, may be cutinto the contiguous sides of the piling and jacket leg to be reinforced.A temporary service platform 21 may be constructed around the jacket legand piling, beneath the location of window 20. The platform is supportedby braces 22 attached to the exterior of the jacket structure and forsafety a guard rail 23 may be placed around the platform perimeter.

In those instances where the piling was constructed with pipe segmentstabilizing or guide means, [9, a swagging tool 24, shown in FIG. I, isinserted into the lateral opening. The tool contains a plurality ofexpanding lobes 25. The lobes are placed next to the web-like section[90, guide means I9, which are inclined toward the pile axis, andexpanded to swage the web-like sections outwardly into generalconformity with the interior of the pile casing II. The swagging tool 24is commercially available through the Layne Texas Company, Inc., ofHouston, Tex.

After the guide sections have been flattened, the swagging tool isremoved and a pile cleanout tool 26, shown in FIG. 2, is positionedwithin the jacket pile opening 20 and lowered down the pile casing on arolling guide sled 27. Fluid is pumped down a conduit 30 into anaccumulation chamber 28 and forced through jetting heads 29 into thecasing interior. If the casing is initially water free, fluid exitingfrom jets 29 will build up a substantial water head, as shown at 37. Asthe tool encounters mud or silt within the casing, water from theplurality of high-pressure jets 29 will fragment or disperse the mud andsilt, forming a generally homogeneous suspension of water and debrisaround the end of the cleanout tool.

Superatmospheric air is then forced through a conduit 32 into a toroidalmanifold 33 and out of a plurality of apertures 38 contained therein, asshown in FIG. 12. The high pressure air will comingle with thehomogeneous suspension of fluid and silt which has entered the pumpingchamber and substantially reduce its specific gravity. As discussedbefore, since a head of water 37, which water has a specific gravity ofsubstantially unity, exists outside a preferably stiff, and possiblymetallic conduit 35, and a column of foamed or aerated" water andparticulate matter having specific gravity less than that of water 37exists within metallic conduit 35, the foamed liquid and particulatematter will be forced to the surface and expelled at lower lip 36 ofwindow 20.

Therefore, as thejacket pile cleanout tool descends into the pilecasing, the fluid from jets 29 disperses mud and silt contained therein,and a gas lift pump 3] pumps this matter to the surface, where it isexpelled into the sea. This scouring and removal process is continueduntil the piling is cleaned a desirable distance extending into the seabed.

The operation of the gas lift pump 31 requires the maintenance of ahydrostatic head. Therefore, even though the jacket pile cleanout devicecan substantially remove mud and silt from the interior of the casing,it will necessarily leave a considerably amount of liquid within thepile casing.

In some circumstances, where the reinforcement merely comprises fillingthe casing with a stiffening material, the clean fluid will beunobjectionable since materials such as asphalt, grouting or othercementitious material will merely displace the fluid as it is pumpedinto the piling. However, where a cementitious column is to beprestressed, it is desirable to substantially dewater the piling beforeworking within it.

The dewatering can be accomplished by lowering a conventional rotaryvane pump 39, generally depicted in FIG. 3, into the piling casing. Thepump end 40 is submerged into the fluid contained in the casing. As thefluid level recedes, the pump can be lowered to maintain the inlet belowthe water line. It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in theart that a pump of this type would have been unacceptable initiallybecause its rotary vanes would have been clogged by the mud and siltwithin the piling. Further, it would have occupied too much space to beutilized with a cutting tool and for other reasons as priorlyenumerated.

After the water within the pile casing is substantially removed, thepump 39 is withdrawn and a reinforcing bundle is inserted within thecasing walls. The reinforcing bundle is composed of a pair of end plates41 and 42, as best seen in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, and a plurality ofreinforcing rods or tendons 43 extending between the two end plates. Theend plates are provided with central passages 47 and 48 to allow thepiling to be filled with cementitious material, as will be describedlater. Each of the reinforcing rods is surrounded by a tubular sheath 44which is spaced radially therefrom. The rods 43 are secured to the endplates by conventional prestressing washers 45. The upper plate isattached to the interior of the casing wall by a plurality of supportbars 46. It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art thatthe structure of the reinforcing cage, while flexible, may dictateslightly enlarging opening to accommodate its insertion into the pilecasing. In those instances where the access opening is provided in thetop of the piling, forming or enlarging a side access, of course, wouldbe unnecessary.

Once the reinforcing cage is secured within the pile casing, the opening47 in the top plate permits the pile to be pumped substantially full ofa fluid cementitious material I20. The cement is allowed to set andpartially cure until it reaches an adequate strength to be stressed. Thetendons 43 are then tensioned by conventional machinery suitable for thepurpose, such as a hydraulic ram.

Allowing the cement to partially cure before stressing insures arelatively rigid column for the end plates to wear against and furtherexcessive hoop and shear stresses on the piling casing are avoided.

The cement is allowed to fully cure in the prestressed condition. Abinder material is then pumped through passages (not shown) in thestressing washers into the sheaths 44 surrounding the reinforcing rods43 to bind the tendons to the sheaths, thus creating an integralprestressed structure, shown in FIG. 7. The end plate 41 is then coveredwith concrete and window 20 is sealed with a closing plate, not shown.

By following the above outlined sequence of steps, ajacket piling whichwas either originally designed as a temporary structure or one that hadsubstantially deteriorated through corrosion has been rejuvenated by theconstruction therein of a prestressed concrete column which will stiffenthe pilings and carry considerably more stress, without failure, thanthe original tubular structure.

THE JACKET PILE CLEANOUT TOOL A preferred embodiment of ajacket pilecleanout tool. as shown in FIG. 8, positioned within a pile casing ll,comprises a first generally closed cylindrical accumulation jettingchamber 5L A plurality of jetting nozzles, generally indicated as 29,protrude from the lower end of the chamber 51 in three echelons. A firstpenetration nozzle I2] is centrally located directly on the bottom ofthe accumulation chamber. This nozzle serves to jet a leading hole whichvertically penetrates and preconditions mud within the piling ll.

The penetration nozzle is followed by a circumferential row of cuttingand fragmenting nozzles I22. These nozzles extend from the sidewalls ofthe accumulation chamber and project downwardly at an angleapproximately 45 (degrees) to the vertical. Descent of the penetrationnozzle 12] brings the main cutting and fragmenting nozzles intoproximity with the sloping faces, approximately 45 (degrees), ofpreconditioned or partially softened mud. Fluid jetting from the nozzles122 meet the wall of presoftened mud at an angle approximately normal tothe slope of the mud wall and therefore penetrate and dispersesubstantially all of the mud within the piling II.

The main cutting nozzles I22 are followed by a final echelon ofcircumferentially spaced scouring nozzles I23. The scouring nozzles arecircumferentially positioned to straddle the spacing of the cuttingnozzles 122 and extend downwardly at an angle of approximately 60(degrees) with the vertical. The function of the scouring nozzles 123 isto jet against and disperse any mud clinging to the piling wall whichthe cutting nozzles 122 did not disperse, therefore substantiallyscouring and cleaning the piling walls of all debris.

The nozzles, as shown in FIG. 9, are designed with a first frustoconicalinlet passage 53 which gradually reduces to a jetting passage 52. Thesize of the nozzle varies with the job and they are, therefore,interchangeably attached to the accumulation chamber by collars 56.Further, the jetting passage of each nozzle is provided with a hardenedsurface 52a or a wear insert (not shown) to maximize nozzle life.

At the top of the jetting accumulation chamber 51 is an en tranceconduit 59 which is connected directly, through a conventional threadedcoupler 60, to a high-pressure fluid con duit 30. Additionally, at theupper end of the jetting accumu lation chamber is a support tab 57containing an aperture 58 therein, to provide a ready connection for awire support rope. not shown.

lntegrally, attached by means of a coupling plate 61 to theabove-described jetting accumulation chamber 5 l is a pumping chamber3|. The pump contains an opening 62 in the lower end and has atriangular cross-sectional, toroidal manifold 33 attached to theinterior thereof.

The manifold 33, as shown in FIG. [2, comprises a pair ofcircumfcrentially extending legs 63 and 64. The legs are welded togetherat one end by a weld bead 6S and angularly slope to the wall of thepumping chamber where they are united thereto by a pair of weld beads 66and 67. Therefore, a triangular, toroidal manifold is formed on theinterior surface ofthe pumping chamber. The triangular shape of themanifold projecting into the flow stream of the pump 3l will produce aconvergent flow pattern upstream of the manifold. A vena contracta maytend to be produced upstream of the air inlet orifices 38, and, if soproduced, may tend to assist in keeping the orifices 38 "clean.

A high-pressure air (or gas) line 32 is connected to the pumping chamber31 and opens directly into the interior of the high-pressure manifoldthrough an aperture 68 in the pumping chamber wall. As best seen inFIGS. [2 and 13, the high-pressure manifold contains a plurality ofupwardly facing orifices 38 spaced in two circumferential rows withinthe upper leg of the manifold structure. The orifices provide a uniformarray of multiple entrance for high-pressure gas into IUIOZlS 0224 theinterior of pumping chamber 31. It will also be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art that providing orifices 38 in the upper leg only ofthe manifold 33 will prevent mud and debris from entering and cloggingthe manifold passage.

At the upper end of the pumping chamber is a low pressure swivel joint69 and a cam-type coupler 70 such as that disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,53,026.

A jacket pile cleanout device of this particular embodiment isfrequently used with casings approximately 30 inches in diameter orgreater. Therefore, in order to insure the maintenance of the jettinghead approximately in the center of the casing, and to keep the cleanoutdevice from tilting and wedging within thejacket pile a rollingcentralizing support or sled, generally indicated 27, as shown in FIG.8, is positioned around the accumulation chamber 51.

The rolling support comprises an upper set of three radially disposedsupport arms 71 and an identical lower set of support arms 72. A firstarm 73 is positioned diametrically opposite to the pumping chamber 31.Journaled vertically between arm 73 and its lower counterpart is arectangular casing 74 which serves as a base for an upper and lower setof bifurcated caster brackets 75. Caster wheels for rolling contact withthe interior of the pile causing II are journaled on each of thebrackets 75.

la order to prevent the support bar 74 from rotating around an axle pin77, under working conditions, an aperture 78 is formed in the supportarm 73 and a corresponding aperture is fashioned into a keeper tab 79which extends from the support bar 74. As best seen in FIG. 11, to lockthe rollers into an operative position, the apertures in support arm 73and keeper tab 79 are aligned and a locking pin 80 is droppedtherethrough.

The other two pairs of support arm 81 are positioned approximately 120on either side of support arm 73 and are distinguishable therefrom bythe addition of a second support bar locking position. When a lockingaperture 82 is utilized, the rollers extend radially from theaccumulation chamber which is the normal operating position. However,when it is desired to insert or withdraw the cleanout device from a pilecasing, these rolling supports can be swung approximately 60, asindicated by phantom lines in FlG. 10, and locked in position utilizingan aperture 83. Therefore, it is possible to insert the cleanout deviceinto the pile casing through a smaller service window than would befeasible if these two rolling supports would not laterally rotate.

The above-described embodiment of the jacket pile cleanout device isparticularly suited to relatively large casings, although not limitedthereto. When casings are encountered which have a small diameter,another embodiment of the jacket cleanout device may be preferred and isdisclosed by FlGS.14-17.

As best seen in FIG. 14, the cleanout tool comprises a fluidaccumulating jetting chamber 90. This chamber comprises a centralcylindrical body member 91 with an upper cap 92 and a lower cap 93. Thelower cap is provided with a plurality of hemispheric-ally arrangednozzles 94, as best seen in FIGS. 14 and 16. The nozzles are positionedin three echelons, as discussed previously, for penetrating, cutting andscouring. The nozzles are provided with a cylindricaljetting bore 95 andare interchangeably connected within a plurality of end cap threadedapertures 96.

The upper end cap 92 is provided with an inlet passage 97. Coupleddirectly to this passage is a high-pressure fluid conduit 98 which isattached to inlet pipe 30 by a conventional threaded fastener 99.

Concentrically surrounding the accumulation jetting chamber 90 is a gaslift pump 100. The pump comprises a generally cylindrical chamber 101which is open at its lower end, as at 102, and is provided with areducing cap 103 at its upper end which opens directly into an outletconduit 104. The outlet conduit is coupled to exhaust pipe 35 by a quickrelease cam coupling 70. The high pressure fluid conduit 98 passesthrough the reducing cap 103 and is provided with a seal weld I24.

The upper reducing cap 103 has integrally attached thereto a support car105, as shown in FIG. 15, with an aperture 106 therethrough. The car issuitable for connection to a flexible metallic support cable.

Positioned within the pumping chamber 100 is a generally triangulartoroidal high-pressure manifold 107, which, as best seen in FIG. 14, iscomposed of an upper peripherally extending side 108 and a lowerperipherally extending side 109. These sides are angled together andextend about and are directly welded to the cylindrical portion 91 ofthe accumulating jetting chamber 90. Therefore. the chamber serves as abase for the toroidal manifold.

The upper side 108 of the manifold is provided with an inlet aperture110, which accommodates a high-pressure air line 32 and provides anentrance into the manifold 107. The upper side 108 of the manifold 107is further provided with a plurality of upwardly facing apertures 11]. Atriangular manifold, as discussed previously, provides an advantageousmeans of pumping air into the chamber and the upwardly directed orifices111 prevent clogging of the manifold 107. The apex 112 of the triangularmanifold radially falls short of extending to the inner periphery of thepumping chamber 10], therefore an annular space 113 is maintained toallow water and particulate matter to enter the pumping chamber aroundthe outside of the manifold and to be therefrom lifted to the surface bygas lift techniques as described above.

SUMMARY OF THE ADVANTAGES It will be appreciated by those skilled in theart that the above disclosure provides a method and means ofreinforcing. in situ, a weakened jacket pile casing which may containobstructions and which may be filled with mud or other debris.

In addition, the above-described jacket pile cleanout tool when utilizedas directed can be inserted into a piling, in situ, to scour theinterior thereof without necessitating a shutdown on the work platform.

The cleanout tool as described above comprises a unitary structure thatcan be positioned within a piling to penetrate, fragment and scour mudfrom the interior thereof and pump the debris to the surface even atdepths greatly exceeding sea level.

The tool is light weight, dimensionally compatible with conventionalpiling casings, and is essentially abrasion resistant and nonclogging.

The sloping lower wall of the triangular manifold channels fluid intothe pumping chamber and may thus assist in keeping the air supplyingorifices "clean."

The invention has been described in connection with a techniqueinvolving the posttensioning of the reinforcing elements 43. Thistechnique is advantageous in that substantially no axial stress isimposed upon the piling to be repaired or strengthened. However, incertain instances, it may be permissible to secure the plates 41 and 42to the piling interior and pretension the members 43 before the cementis introduced into the piling to surround these reinforcing members.After the cement was introduced and cured, the members 43 would berelaxes so as to cause the plates 41 and 42 to axially, compressivelyengage the cement mass.

As will also be recognized, the practice of the invention is not limitedto the repairing of conduits having an essentially uprightconfiguration.

Although the invention is described with reference to preferredembodiments, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatadditions, deletions, modifications, substitutions and other changes notspecifically described and illustrated in these embodiments, may be madewhich will fall within the purview of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A jacket pile cleanout device, designed to clean the interior of anoffshore piling extending from within a sea bed to above the surface ofthe sea for supporting a platform thereon, wherein said piling may befilled or partially filled with sedimentor debris, comprising:

a fluid accumulation jetting chamber, having a fluid jetting meanscommunicating with a portion of said accumulation jetting chamber, and

a fluid inlet aperture in another portion of said accumulation chamber,

whereby pressurized fluid entering said inlet aperture can bemomentarily stored in said accumulation chamber and thenjetted throughsaidjetting means;

a pumping chamber connected with said accumulation chamber, and having afluid inlet in one portion thereof;

a fluid exit in another portion thereof, and

means attached to said pumping chamber, between said fluid inlet andsaid fluid exit, to introduce pressurized gas into the interior of saidpumping chamber;

whereby when said cleanout device is positioned within an offshorepiling, fluid jetting from said jetting chamber will dislodge andfragment matter within the piling and of said fragmented matter will belifted to the surface through said pumping chamber by gas lift.

2. A jacket pile cleanout device as defined in claim 1 wherein saidfluid jetting means comprises:

a first central penetration nozzle;

a second ring of cutting nozzles disposed upstream of said penetrationnozzle and a third ring of scouring nozzles disposed upstream of bothsaid penetration and cutting nozzles.

3. A jacket pile cleanout device as defined in claim 1, wherein saidmeans to introduce pressurized gas into said pumping chamber comprises:

a toroidal manifold within said pumping chamber, said manifoldcontaining a plurality of apertures therein to allow pressurized gas toescape therefrom into the interi' or of said pumping chamber.

4. A pile cleanout device adapted to clean the interior of an offshorepiling extending from within a sea bed to above the surface of a sea,for supporting a platform thereon, wherein said piling may be filled orpartially filled with sediment or other foreign matter, comprising:

a generally cylindrical accumulation jetting chamber hava fluidjettingmeans in one end thereof, and

a fluid inlet aperture in the other end thereof, whereby pressurizedfluid entering said inlet aperture can be momentarily stored in saidaccumulation chamber and thenjetted through saidjetting means;

a generally cylindrical pumping chamber, connected to said accumulationchamber so that the axis thereof is substantially parallel to the axisof said fluid accumulation jetting chamber, and having a fluid inlet inone end thereof,

a fluid exit in the other end thereof, and

means attached to said pumping chamber between said fluid inlet and saidfluid exit to introduce pressurized gas into the interior of saidpumping chamber;

whereby when said cleanout device is positioned in an offshore piling,fluid jetting from said jetting chamber will dislodge and fragmentmatter within the piling and said fragmented matter will be lifted tothe surface through said pumping chamber by gas lift.

5. A jacket pile cleanout device as defined in claim 4 wherein saidmeans to introduce pressurized gas into said pumping chamber comprises:

a conduit connected to an aperture within the wall of said cylindricalpumping chamber, and

a generally triangularly shaped, toroidal manifold, the base thereofbeing formed by a portion of the inner surface of said pumping chamber,said manifold being positioned coaxially within said pumping chamber sothat said aperture in the wall of said pumping chamber opens directlythereinto, and

said toroidal manifold contains a plurality of apertures therein toallow pressurized gas to escape therefrom into the interior of saidpumping chamber.

6. A jacket pile cleanout device as defined in claim 4, and

further comprising:

Glil

a rolling support means connected to said accumulation jetting chamber,and adapted to support said jacket pile cleanout device centrally withinsaid jacket pile casing.

7. A jacket pile cleanout device as defined in claim 6 wherein: saidsupport means comprises a first set of three rollers connected to saidaccumulation jetting chamber by support arms radially extendingtherefrom: and

a second set of three rollers connected to said accumulator jettingchamber by support arms radially extending therefrom and axially spacedfrom said first set of rollers,

whereby said accumulation jetting chamber can be centered within saidpile casing and positioned substantially coaxial therewith.

8. A jacket pile cleanout device as defined in claim 7,

wherein:

at least a pair of said rollers of said first set and a correspondingpair of said rollers of said second set are connected to said radiallyextending arms by a multiple pin position connection,

whereby removal of a pin of said multiple pin position connection willallow corresponding rollers of said first and said second sets to pivot,thus allowing entry of said jacket pile cleanout device into a lateralopening in said casing with a minimum chordal dimension.

9. A pile cleanout device as defined in claim 4, wherein said fluidjetting means comprises:

a first vertically extending penetration nozzle;

a second plurality of circumferentially disposed cutting or dispersingnoules positioned upstream of said penetration nozzle and at an acuteangle to the vertical; and

a third plurality of circumferentially disposed scouring nozzlespositioned upstream of both said penetrating and cutting nozzles.

10. A pile cleanout device adapted to clean the interior of an offshorepiling extending from within the bed of a body of water to above thesurface of the water, for supporting a platform thereon, wherein saidpiling may be filled or partially filled with sediment or other debris,said device comprising:

a generally cylindrical, accumulating chamber, having a fluid jettingmeans in a lower end thereof,

a fluid inlet aperture in an upper end thereof,

whereby pressurized fluid entering said inlet aperture will bemomentarily stored in said accumulation chamber and thenjetted throughsaid jetting means;

a generally cylindrical pumping chamber, coaxially connected to andsurrounding said accumulation chamber, having a fluid inlet in a lowerend thereof,

a fluid exit in an upper end thereof, and

means within said pumping chamber positioned between said fluid inletand said fluid exit to introduce a pressurized gas into the interior ofsaid pumping chamber:

whereby with said cleanout device positioned in an offshore piling,fluid jetting from said jetting chamber will dislodge and fragmentmatter within the piling and said fragmented matter will then be liftedto the surface through said pumping chamber by gas lift.

11. A jacket pile cleanout device as defined in claim 10 wherein saidmeans to introduce pressurized fluid into said pumping chambercomprises:

a conduit extending into said pumping chamber;

a generally triangular toroidal manifold connected to said conduit, thebase of said triangular toroidal manifold being formed by a portion ofthe outer cylindrical wall of said accumulation chamber. and

a plurality of apertures formed in said toroidal chamber to allowpressurized gas to escape therefrom into the interior of said pumpingchamber.

12. A jacket pile cleanout device as defined in claim 10 wherein:

said fluid jetting means comprises a central nozzle, said central nozzlebeing surrounded by a plurality of similar fluid jetting nozzlesoriented in a generally hemispherical pattern.

1. A jacket pile cleanout device, designed to clean the interior of anoffshore piling extending from within a sea bed to above the surface ofthe sea for supporting a platform thereon, wherein said piling may befilled or partially filled with sediment or debris, comprising: a fluidaccumulation jetting chamber, having a fluid jetting means communicatingwith a portion of said accumulation jetting chamber, and a fluid inletaperture in another portion of said accumulation chamber, wherebypressurized fluid entering said inlet aperture can be momentarily storedin said accumulation chamber and then jetted through said jetting means;a pumping chamber connected with said accumulation chamber, and having afluid inlet in one portion thereof; a fluid exit in another portionthereof, and means attached to said pumping chamber, between said fluidinlet and said fluid exit, to introduce pressurized gas into theinterior of said pumping chamber; whereby when said cleanout device ispositioned within an offshore piling, fluid jetting from said jettingchamber will dislodge and fragment matter within the piling and of saidfragmented matter will be lifted to the surface through said pumpingchamber by gas lift.
 2. A jacket pile cleanout device as defined inclaim 1 wherein said fluid jetting means comprises: a first centralpenetration nozzle; a second ring of cutting nozzles disposed upstreamof said penetration nozzle and a third ring of scouring nozzles disposedupstream of both said penetration and cutting nozzles.
 3. A jacket pilecleanout device as defined in claim 1, wherein said means to introducepressurized gas into said pumping chamber comprises: a toroidal manifoldwithin said pumping chamber, said manifold containing a plurality ofapertures therein to allow pressurized gas to escape therefrom into theinterior of said pumping chamber.
 4. A pile cleanout device adapted toclean the interior of an offshore piling extending from within a sea bedto above the surface of a sea, for supporting a platform thereon,wherein said piling may be filled or partially filled with sediment orother foreign matter, comprising: a generally cylindrical accumulationjetting chamber having, a fluid jetting means in one end thereof, and afluid inlet aperture in the other end thereof, whereby pressurized fluidentering said inlet aperture can be momentarily stored in saidaccumulation chamber and then jetted through said jetting means; agenerally cylindrical pumping chamber, connected to said accumulationchamber so that the axis thereof is substantially parallel to the axisof said fluid accumulation jetting chamber, and having a fluid inlet inone end thereof, a fluid exit in the other end thereof, and meansattached to said pumping chamber between said fluid inlet and said fluidexit to introduce pressurized gas into the interior of said pumpingchamber; whereby when said cleanout device is positioned in an offshorepiling, fluid jetting from said jetting chamber will dislodge andfragment matter within the piling and said fragmented matter will belifted to the surface through said pumping chamber by gas lift.
 5. Ajacket pile cleanout device as defined in claim 4 wherein said means tointroduce pressurized gas into said pumping chamber comprises: a conduitconnected to an aperture within the wall of said cylindrical pumpingchamber, and a generally triangularly shaped, toroidal manifold, thebase thereof being formed by a portion of the inner surface of saidpumping chamber, said manifold being positioned coaxially within saidpumping chamber so that said aperture in the wall of said pumpingchamber opens directly thereinto, and said toroidal manifold contains aplurality of apertures therein to allow pressurized gas to escapetherefrom into the interior of said pumping chamber.
 6. A jacket pilecleanout device as defined in claim 4, and further comprising: a rollingsupport means connected to said accumulation jetting chamber, andadapted to support said jacket pile cleanout device centrally withinsaid jacket pile casing.
 7. A jacket pile cleanout device as defined inclaim 6 wherein: said support means comprises a first set of threerollers connected to said accumulation jetting chamber by support armsradially extending therefrom: and a second set of three rollersconnected to said accumulator jetting chamber by support arms radiallyextending therefrom and axially spaced from said first set of rollers,whereby said accumulation jetting chamber can be centered within saidpile casing and positioned substantially coaxial therewith.
 8. A jacketpile cleanout device as defined in claim 7, wherein: at least a pair ofsaid rollers of said first set and a corresponding pair of said rollersof said second set are connected to said radially extending arms by amultiple pin position connection, whereby removal of a pin of saidmultiple pin position connection will allow corresponding rollers ofsaid first and said second sets to pivot, thus allowing entry of saidjacket pile cleanout device into a lateral opening in said casing with aminimum chordal dimension.
 9. A pile cleanout device as defined in claim4, wherein said fluid jetting means comprises: a first verticallyextending penetration nozzle; a second plurality of circumferentiallydisposed cutting or dispersing nozzles positioned upstream of saidpenetration nozzle and at an acute angle to the vertical; and a thirdplurality of circumferentially disposed scouring nozzles positionedupstream of both said penetrating and cutting nozzles.
 10. A pilecleanout device adapted to clean the interior of an offshore pilingextending from within the bed of a body of water to above the surface ofthe water, for supporting a platform thereon, wherein said piling may befilled or partially filled with sediment or other debris, said devicecomprising: a generally cylindrical, accumulating chamber, having afluid jetting means in a lower end thereof, a fluid inleT aperture in anupper end thereof, whereby pressurized fluid entering said inletaperture will be momentarily stored in said accumulation chamber andthen jetted through said jetting means; a generally cylindrical pumpingchamber, coaxially connected to and surrounding said accumulationchamber, having a fluid inlet in a lower end thereof, a fluid exit in anupper end thereof, and means within said pumping chamber positionedbetween said fluid inlet and said fluid exit to introduce a pressurizedgas into the interior of said pumping chamber: whereby with saidcleanout device positioned in an offshore piling, fluid jetting fromsaid jetting chamber will dislodge and fragment matter within the pilingand said fragmented matter will then be lifted to the surface throughsaid pumping chamber by gas lift.
 11. A jacket pile cleanout device asdefined in claim 10 wherein said means to introduce pressurized fluidinto said pumping chamber comprises: a conduit extending into saidpumping chamber; a generally triangular toroidal manifold connected tosaid conduit, the base of said triangular toroidal manifold being formedby a portion of the outer cylindrical wall of said accumulation chamber,and a plurality of apertures formed in said toroidal chamber to allowpressurized gas to escape therefrom into the interior of said pumpingchamber.
 12. A jacket pile cleanout device as defined in claim 10wherein: said fluid jetting means comprises a central nozzle, saidcentral nozzle being surrounded by a plurality of similar fluid jettingnozzles oriented in a generally hemispherical pattern.